While seemingly less direct than a physical accident, severe illness can result from a negligent failure to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, particularly in environments like daycares, schools, or other care facilities.
- What It Is: A child contracts a serious, contagious illness (e.g., certain severe viral infections, bacterial infections, or foodborne illnesses) due to the failure of a caregiver, school, or facility to follow health protocols, resulting in severe complications.
- Causes: Negligence may include failure to maintain proper hygiene (e.g., inadequate handwashing protocols for staff or children), failure to isolate sick children, failure to properly clean and sanitize facilities, failure to notify parents of exposure to a contagious disease, or unsafe food handling practices that lead to outbreaks.
- Statistics: Although often not directly linked to individual lawsuits, the negligent spread of illness can have far-reaching impacts. For example, foodborne illnesses (a form of negligent spread) cause millions of illnesses annually, with young children being especially vulnerable to severe complications like kidney failure. Outbreaks of serious viral illnesses can occur in childcare settings when protocols are lax, leading to widespread sickness and potentially severe outcomes for vulnerable children.
- Long-Term Impact: While many illnesses resolve, some can lead to severe and lasting complications like brain damage (e.g., from certain types of meningitis), kidney failure, severe dehydration, or long-term chronic conditions. In cases of apparent negligence resulting in a severe, preventable illness, a claim may be possible.
When Sickness Isn’t Just Sickness: Fight for Answers and Accountability.
A child’s severe illness is terrifying, but when it stems from preventable negligence in a daycare, school, or care facility, it’s an unthinkable betrayal of trust. The silent spread of disease, due to ignored hygiene or safety protocols, can lead to devastating, lifelong consequences like brain damage, kidney failure, or chronic conditions.
You deserve to know the truth. At Child & Birth Injury Lawyers, we understand the profound impact of these hidden harms. We are prepared to meticulously investigate if a caregiver’s failure to follow health protocols led to your child’s severe illness.
Don’t let negligence go unchallenged. Your child’s long-term health and future depend on timely action.
If your child suffered a serious, preventable illness, call Child & Birth Injury Lawyers immediately. We are here, nationwide, to uncover the responsibility and fight fiercely for the justice and comprehensive care your family needs.